CHAPTER XII. 



ARE THE COLORS OF FLOWERS THE RESULT OF INSECT 



SELECTION ? 



Prof. Hermann Mliller, in his book on "The Fertilization 

 of Flowers," ascribes their color to the selective agency of 

 insects, which having preferences for certain hues, have 

 visited such more frequently, and consequently have pro- 

 moted their increase by cross-fertilization. We quote from 

 him as follows : 



"In Rosacem, whose honey lies concealed and which are 

 fertilized by a motley crowd of short-lippod insects, the 

 flowers are for the most part greenish-yellow, yellow, or 

 white in color. In Gomarmn palustre, Potentilla atrosan- 

 guinea and Sanguisorba officinalis, they are dark red or 

 pur[)le, probably owing to the influence of carrion-feeding 

 flies, etc. Rosaceoe visited for pollen have white flowers 

 when the chief visitors are small, short-lipped insects." 



"The uncommon color of Scro^iJndaria must be referred 

 to the peculiar taste of its visitors, the was})s. It has round 

 brownish flowers with widely open mouth." 



"Bright red colors of pinks seem to have been produced 

 by the similar tastes of butterflies." 



"Flowers fitted for short-lipped insects are usually white 

 or yellow." 



"Insects with longer tongues and acuter color sense 

 gradually caused the production of flowers with more varied 

 colors." 



" Globular ia is blue. This is the only instaiu-e in the 

 German and Swiss flora of a l^lue color h^xwg produced hy 

 the selective agency of Lepidopienr (butterflies). 



"Hundreds of ht)ney bees visit both Melilolns o^cinalis 

 (yellow), and 31. vulgaris''' (white). 



